(ABC / Lorenzo Bevilaqua)
Today, ABC airs the final episode of their daytime series, The Chew. Last month, the network announced that the cooking-themed talk show had been cancelled after more than 1,400 episodes. Will you miss it? Was this the right decision?
Launching in September 2011, The Chew replaced the All My Children soap opera after its 41 years on the network. A talk show that incorporates cooking and lifestyle-related segments, the series was initially hosted by Mario Batali, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Daphne Oz, and Michael Symon. Oz departed the show after six seasons and Batali left following sexual misconduct allegations in December 2017.
ABC decided to cancel The Chew in order to expand their Good Morning America series to three hours. NBC’s Today show has had a third hour (with various titles) since October 2000. The current incarnation is Megyn Kelly Today.
While the third hour of Today typically followed the regular program’s two-hour broadcast, hour three of Good Morning America will air separately, in the afternoon. The new hour of GMA is expected to be taped and not presented live, as the regular program is. ABC is making this move as Today has been taking the lead in various demographics in the morning ratings race.
If ABC had wanted to expand GMA to three hours, couldn’t they have replaced either The View or Live with Kelley and Ryan? That was unlikely to happen since both perform better in the ratings than The Chew. In particular, The View has been growing its audience and has been seeing its best ratings since the 2014-15 season (a rarity in today’s landscape). Meanwhile, The Chew has been in last place, ranking 13th out of 13 daytime series.
While ABC may have high hopes for a third hour of GMA, they no doubt have an uphill battle ahead. Daytime audiences often don’t like change and some viewers still hold a grudge against The Chew for replacing All My Children. Time will tell if the new hour of GMA will fare any better than The Chew did.
What do you think? Do you think that ABC should have cancelled The Chew TV series? If not, what could they have done to boost the ratings? Will you check out a third hour of Good Morning America?
The Chew has finally hit it’s stride after some hiccups in previous seasons. The three current hosts are very entertaining and uplifting to watch, never afraid to laugh at themselves…. A rare quality in today’s landscape! ! It is a horrible mistake to cancel such a feel-good show! !
Loved Loved Loved The Chew, I want it back!
More GMA- blech
This was an incredible show that made my day, it made me laugh and smile they all are such beautiful people with such talent they will be truly missed as well as my day because they brought much to my life Shame on the network that canceled this show. What an uplifting show that distracts from the every day dramas and craft that happens in life and replaces it with positive inspiring stories and uplifting people. They will all truly be missed. What a world we live in when things dictate what shows get canceled because of ratings because of… Read more »
So very disappointed that ABC cancelled this show. My mother recently passed away, and would be devastated with this news. She and I discussed this show all the time. We both loved it. One thing we absolutely do not need is another hour of news.
The Chew was so uplifting and entertaining to watch. The news is not! Shame on you ABC. I won’t be watching!
No it should not have been cancelled! We have enough of ABC’s “special” shows and expanding them removes variety, sadly already missing in this network!! I hope these amazing hosts find another network to host them and wish them all the best in the world!
Disappointed in Hawai’i.
I never watched All My Children before, why would I want to watch it now? I only watch ONE soap opera and have since it started, and that is Days of Our Lives. I record that since my NBC affiliate airs it at 1 pm, to watch the Chew. It is so much fun to watch. Have gotten so many recipes and tips for cooking on this show. Not to mention the craft part. I am not a “crafty” person and can’t see some things potential for repurposing. This really helps people like me. Now tell me about the Proposal?… Read more »
So you watch Days, that’s not even on ABC. I had watched AMC from day 1 till it was cancelled. I feel they should put AMC & OLTL both back on for a half hr. better than not at all. If Bold and Beautiful can survive just on a half hr. so can they.
No it shouldn’t have been cancelled. It was a nice show not only about cooking. It was like a variety show. Can’t understand how the view and kelly and Ryan have better ratings. I don’t even tune into gma. It’s too much. Very disappointed that the chew was cancelled.
Yes it was a horrible !! show
No it shouldn’t have been cancelled. Won’t watch the replacement. Done with ABC.
No, the chew should not have been cancelled. They needed to bring in another chef who could offer their own twist.
Pickled and Ben are ridiculous. Hated Steve Harvy in the am. Liked the previous afternoon show but new afternoon show isn’t very good. His show has become an all afro American audience. He has enough TV programs.
KEEP THE CHEW!!!
PUT 3RD hour of GMA in Kellysr spot and then her spot after ZGMA and the View. Perfect programming!!!!!!!!.
KEEP THE CHEW and add 1 or 2 more chefs with personalities like the 3 now.
NO!!! The Chew should not be canceled. I’m retired now and love that show!!! ABC what are you guys thinking? Whatever Show you guys are expanding and right off hand don’t remember because I don’t watch it anyway. Stay with the Chew that people watch and love! Thank you… maybe, depends on if you keep the Chew!!!!!
I would like to see it replaced with a game show instead.
No it should not have been canceled. Although I liked Mario, never cared for Oz. The show has been better with just Karla, Clinton and Michael. No I do Not watch GMA now and will not now. BRING THE CHEW BACK. Maybe if GMA was any good it would have better ratings. The current host are horrible leaders Robin /Michael
Robin is actually very good on GMA. Smart, thoughtful, funny, and tactful. But I agree that Michael was a stretch to place as a lead. I could hardly understand him because of his lisp and he needs practice on a smooth segue from one news to another.
I agree, I like Robin, but Michael gets on my nerves. Didn’t like him with Kelly and like him less on GMA. With Laura leaving that don’t help them either. Will just watch GH at 2 till then other shows to watch, 2 hours of any show is enough in a day to put up with.
Totally agree with Debra Thomson. The Chew was different and I so enjoyed it. Don’t watch GMA now so definitely won’t in this slot. Bad move to cancel. Love the three current hosts. Today’s finale was excellent but sad to see it end.
SOME OTHER NETWORK PLEASE BE SMART THAN ABC AND PICK UP THE CHEW! I miss this show already. Especially just the 3 of them. Their friendship and fun personalities always brought a smile to my face!
I whole-heartedly agree! Another network should pick it up. Food Network? Flay has pull and should work on that!
The Chew really should not have been cancelled! It has been very entertaining continually! Now given the CHOICE, I think the VIEW would have been a better choice. It’s time for ABC to really look into getting rid of Whoopi and that whole bunch. Their noise is really old and only has bad things to argue about! Expanding GMA is another issue, two hours is plenty of time for the same old nonsense everyday. Three hours is really a poor choice. It’s getting to the point of just being BACKROUND NOISE not entertaining. Maybe I’ll go to NBC and see… Read more »